“Another glass, thanks.”
With his former precaution in the way of bolting and barring, the man entered the cottage and reappeared with a refilled glass.
This the young man drank more leisurely, staring with unconcealed curiosity at his entertainer.
It was a kind of stare that would embarrass six men out of ten, and madden the remaining four; but the woodman bore it with the calm impassiveness of a wooden block, and stood motionless as a statue till the youth set down the glass, then he raised his hand and pointed to the west.
“Yonder lies Arkdale.”
“Oh! How far?”
“Four miles and a half by the near road. Follow me, and I will put you into it.”
“All right, lead on,” said the other; but as he rose he turned, and while refilling his pipe stared at the closely locked cottage.
“Comfortable kind of crib that, my man.”
The woodman nodded curtly.